Facts in News

Facts in News
Statehood Day of Sikkim	Recently, Prime Minister Narendra greeted the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day. Historical Background Sikkim was founded by the Namgyal dynasty in the 17th century. The Namgyal dynasty ruled Sikkim until 1975. It became a princely state of British India in 1890. Declared as Protectorate of India in 1950 following the Indo-Sikkimese Treaty. Under this treaty, India is responsible for the external relations, defence, and strategic communications of Sikkim. Became the 22nd state of India on 16th May 1975. Key Points Location: Northeast India (mainly eastern Himalayas). Capital: Gangtok Sikkim is the least populous and second smallest Indian state. Borders: North and Northeast: Tibet (China) Southeast: Bhutan. South: West Bengal. West: Nepal Geography: Mount Kanchenjunga (India’s highest peak and the world’s third-highest mountain) is situated here. Kanchenjunga National Park (KNP) is India’s high-elevation conservation area. In 2016, UNESCO declared KNP as a World Heritage Site under the ‘mixed’ category (sites containing elements of both natural and cultural significance). Major Rivers: Teesta River and its tributaries such as the Rangit, Lhonak, Talung, and Lachung. Image Courtesy: Sikkim Tourism
Winchcombe Meteorite	A piece of Winchcombe meteorite will be displayed at the National History Museum, Gloucestershire (UK). The Winchcombe meteorite is known as a carbonaceous meteorite. This kind of meteorite can’t be modified, by either melting or differentiation of the parent body. Meteorite Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids. Also known as “space rocks”. When meteoroids enter the Earth’s atmosphere they are called meteors. But if a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and hits the ground, it is called a meteorite. Significance It dates back to the birth of the solar system nearly 4.5 billion years ago. Provide clues to scientists and researchers about the beginning of the solar system and Earth. Space missions to Asteroids: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission (2018) for asteroid Bennu. Japan’s Hayabusa 2 mission for asteroid Ryugu (2014). Image Courtesy: BBC
Zhurong Rover	China’s uncrewed ‘Tianwen-1’ spacecraft landed safely on the northern hemisphere of Mars (also known as Utopia Planitia), with ‘Zhurong’ rover, the onboard lander. Aim: Study the Martian atmosphere and geology. China became the 2nd country after the USA send a rover to explore the mysterious Red Planet. If ‘Zhurong’ is deployed successfully then China will become the first country to successfully orbit, land and offload a rover during its maiden Mars mission. Other Mars missions United States: Viking 1, Viking 2, Opportunity & Spirit and Perseverance rovers to explore Mars. Soviet Union (present Russia): Launched Mars probe in 1971, but communication was lost. India: Launched Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) in 2014 and became the 1st Asian nation to reach Martian orbit (in 1st attempt) in the world. Image Courtesy: Bangkok Post
Zeolite Cargo Flights	Air India has started the first of its “zeolite cargo flights” to import zeolite for use in medical oxygen plants. Zeolites are crystalline solid structures made of silicon, aluminium and oxygen. Zeolites occur naturally and are also produced industrially on a large scale. They are often also referred to as molecular sieves. Key Points Administered under: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). DRDO will utilize the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, to set up these medical oxygen plants. Significance: These oxygen plants will help in supplementing oxygen supplies for COVID-19 patients. The technology uses the pressure swing adsorption process and molecular sieve zeolite in oxygen generation. The pressure swing adsorption process is a cyclic process that uses beds of solid adsorbent to remove impurities from the gas and generally produces higher-purity hydrogen The technology will be especially useful in urban, remote and rural settings with the on-site generation of medical oxygen in a cost-effective manner.
Asian Gracile Skink	Recently, an Asian gracile skink species have been discovered from the Western Ghats. Key Points Scientific name: Subdoluseps nilgiriensis. They are non-venomous and their inconspicuous limbs make them resemble snakes. It also looks like Subdoluseps pruthi that is found in parts of the Eastern Ghats. Size: 7 cm Colour: Sandy Brown Diet: Not known IUCN Status: Vulnerable Threats: Forest Fires, construction activities, afforestation, rapid urbanisation etc. Image Courtesy: The Hindu
Mice Rain in Australia	Recently, New South Wales (Southern Australia) has faced mouse plague due to sudden Mice Rain. This sudden mice rain happens due to unusually abundant grain harvest this year. To control the plague, the government has now authorised the use of a poison called bromadiolone. Plague: It is an infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria, usually found in small mammals and their fleas. The disease is transmitted between animals via their fleas and, as it is a zoonotic bacteria, it can also transmit from animals to humans. Key Points The mice have a short breeding cycle (a pair of breeding mice can give birth to a new litter every 21 days or so) and are not very choosy about food. The rodents (which includes rats and mice) are the second most successful mammals on the planet after humans. Impact: Rodents can cause damage to food grains, domestic households, commercial businesses, farms, manufacturers and livestock. They can not only gnaw through materials but can also ruin supplies by excreting them. Spread diseases such as leptospirosis and typhus fever. They can also carry fleas or ticks that can harm pets and humans.
Bogs	Recently, a pair of cranes were spotted last year on a restored peat bog in Ireland. Key Points Bogs (also called quagmires) are soft, spongy wetlands that accumulate peat– a fossil fuel that is used for heating homes and businesses in northern Europe. Bogs also act as carbon sinks, sequestering around 200 million tons of carbon from the environment in Siberia and Scandinavia. Threats: The extraction of peat or for development activities, the ecosystem got destroyed including damage to species such as cranes. Restoration: Rewetting and reintroducing bog plants. Image Courtesy: Science Mag
MS Narasimhan	Recently, a famous mathematician Professor MS Narasimhan passed away. Key Points Along with C.S. Seshdhari, he introduced the Narasimhan–Seshadri theorem. This theorem is related to geometry, in which stable holomorphic vector bundles lie over a compact Riemann surface. He was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom. He has been the only Indian to receive the King Faisal International Prize in the field of science.